Inventor Thomas Edison created such great innovations as the electric light bulb and the phonograph. A savvy businessman, he held more than 1,000 patents for his inventions.

• Inventor
  (1847–1931)

Lewis Howard Latimer was an inventor and draftsman best known for his contributions to the patenting of the light bulb and the telephone.

• Inventor, Engineer
  (c. 1848–c. 1928)

Garrett Morgan blazed a trail for African-American inventors with his patents, including those for a hair-straightening product, a breathing device, a revamped sewing machine and an improved traffic signal.

• Inventor, Publisher
  (1877–1963)

American engineer and inventor Robert Fulton is best know for developing the first successful steamboat and the world's first steam warship.

• Engineer, Inventor
  (1765–1815)

Inventor Nikola Tesla contributed to the development of an alternating-current electrical system that's widely used today and discovered the rotating magnetic field (the basis of most AC machinery).

• Engineer, Inventor
  (c. 1856–1943)

George Westinghouse is best known for his inventions and the development of his company, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing.

• Scientist, Inventor
  (1846–1914)

Thomas Blanchard was an American inventor whose patents contributed to the development of the mass production system.

• Inventor
  (1788–1864)

Samuel Colt was an inventor and industrialist who created the revolver—most notably the .45-calibre Peacemaker model, introduced in 1873—and paved the way for the interchangeable parts system of manufacturing.

• Inventor
  (1814–1862)